Top Three Reasons To hire a Filipino Virtual Assistant

The Filipino Virtual Assistant is representative of the quality of work rendered by the Philippines’ talented labor force. Since 2003, the Philippines’ outsourcing industry has maintained its impressive 20% annual growth rate and this is largely due to the ability of Filipinos to consistently produce world class products and services.

Depending on which survey you read, the Philippines and India are the consensus top two premiere destinations for global outsourcing. But in a study published by research engine Knowledgefaber in September 2013, the Philippines’ outsourcing services sector outgrew the National Capital region of India, Bangalore and Mumbai 16% to 9% despite the Indian Rupee having a significant comparative advantage over the Philippine Peso. The survey proved two crucial developments in outsourcing. First, outsourcing has evolved from a cost management strategy into a process improvement solution and two, the confidence of multinational companies on the Philippines’ ability to provide great service.

On a smaller scale, the Philippines has also made great strides in the virtual assistance industry. More Filipinos have taken on roles as virtual assistants because there is demand, the work hours are flexible and it offers opportunities to make good money. In fact, a significant number of Filipinos who become virtual assistants already hold full-time jobs. According to the latest statistics on family expenditures in the Philippines, a typical family of four needs to generate Php40,000 or AUD$1,250 to support a decent livelihood. The minimum wage rate in the Philippines is Php466 or AUD$14.56 per day. In monthly terms, the minimum salary to be paid to a registered Filipino worker is Php10,252 or AUD$320. Regular office workers with a college degree and a minimum work experience of two years will usually start out at Php18,000 or AUD$562 per month.

Either way, even if both parents hold full-time jobs, their combined income will not be enough to comfortably sustain family life. The virtual assistance industry presents the option for additional income.

Thus, the virtual assistance industry in the Philippines offers a large pool of talent for companies to recruit from. Despite the high volume of virtual assistants, quality of talent will never be diluted. Here are the top three reasons why you should hire a Filipino Virtual Assistant.

1. High Level of English Proficiency

The Philippines regards English as its primary medium of instruction even if its official language is Tagalog. This is largely because of the American influence in culture and education. The results of a Business English Index study commissioned by California-based Global Education Corporation revealed that out of 76 countries, the Philippines attained a 7.11 score which grouped it with countries such as Norway, Estonia, Serbia and Slovenia in the top 5. Our English proficiency rating was graded 85% which is among the best in Asia.

2. High Literacy Rate

The Philippines has a literacy rate of 97%; among the highest in the world. The figure becomes more impressive when you consider the developing status of the Philippines as an economy. The literacy rate is expected to improve further with the Philippines’ transition to the K-12 educational system which adds another two years in formal schooling. With the adoption of K-12, the Philippines has left its status as one of three other countries that still used the traditional 10-year schooling program. The adoption of K-12 is also in preparation for ASEAN Integration in 2015.

3. Perfect Cultural Fit

The Philippines has had a history of colonization. The country was colonized by the Dutch, Spain, the United States and Japan. As a result, its culture is an amalgamation of social mores and values handed down from various generations. The Philippines has become a cultural melting pot with the innate ability to conform to social nuances from different countries.
The Filipino Virtual Assistant will be an immediate contributor to the success of your business because of his or her ability to speak and write English at an appreciable level, a creditable rate of technical and fundamental competency and cultural trait of being able to work with people from different denominations. Most of all, they are widely reputed to be hard workers who are committed to fulfilling their tasks to the best of their abilities.